The effectiveness of the FRIENDS programs for children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review

Fisak, Brian; Griffin, Kenneth W.; Nelson, Christopher P.; Guajardo, Julia Gallegos; Davila, Sara

doi:10.1016/j.mhp.2023.200271

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Delivering such interventions to groups at school makes sense, since this is where young people spend the majority of their waking hours. Metaanalyses to date indicate that school-based mental health interventions can reduce symptoms of mental health problems in young people, although effect sizes vary considerably and tend to be larger for targeted, relative to universal, interventions (Fisak et al, 2023;Werner-Seidler et al, 2021;Zhang et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scoping review: Potential harm from school-based group mental health interventions

Guzman Holst,

Davis,

Andrews

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that school-based mental health interventions have negative outcomes in at least some young people and thus are potentially harmful for these individuals. In this scoping review, we map out the empirical evidence relating to this phenomenon. We review three specific areas: the types of potential harms reported in school-based mental health interventions; the subgroups of children and adolescents at heightened risk of experiencing potential harm from school-based interventions; and the proposed explanations for these potential harms.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scoping review: Potential harm from school-based group mental health interventions

Guzman Holst,

Davis,

Andrews

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The FRIENDS preventive programme for reducing anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Filges,

Smedslund,

Eriksen

et al. 2024

Campbell Systematic Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundAnxiety and stress responses are often considered normative experiences, and children and adolescents may benefit from anxiety prevention programmes. One such programme is FRIENDS which is based on a firm theoretical model which addresses cognitive, physiological and behavioural processes. FRIENDS is manualised and can, thus, easily be integrated into school curriculums.ObjectivesWhat are the effects of the FRIENDS preventive programme on anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents? Do the effects differ between participant age groups, participant socio‐economic status, type of prevention, type of provider, country of implementation and/or implementation issues in relation to the booster sessions and parent sessions?Search MethodsThe database searches were carried out in September 2023, and other sources were searched in October 2023. We searched to identify both published and unpublished literature. A date restriction from 1998 and onwards was applied.Selection CriteriaThe intervention was three age‐appropriate preventive anxiety programmes: Fun FRIENDS, FRIENDS for Life, and My FRIENDS Youth. Primary outcome was anxiety symptoms and secondary outcome was self‐esteem. Studies that used a control group were eligible, whereas qualitative approaches were not.Data Collection and AnalysisThe number of potentially relevant studies was 2865. Forty‐two studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty‐eight studies were used in the data synthesis. Four studies had a critical risk of bias. Six studies did not report data that enabled calculation of effect sizes and standard errors. Two studies had partial overlap of data to other studies used, and two were written in Persian. Meta‐analyses were conducted on each outcome separately. All analyses were inverse variance weighted using random effects statistical models.Main ResultsStudies came from 15 different countries. Intervention start varied from 2001 to 2016. The average number of participants analysed was 240, and the average number of controls was 212. Twenty‐five comparisons reported on anxiety symptoms post‐intervention. The weighted average standardised mean difference (SMD) was 0.13 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.22). There was some heterogeneity. Twelve comparisons reported on anxiety symptoms at 12 months follow‐up. The weighted average SMD was 0.31 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.49). There was a large amount of heterogeneity. Five comparisons reported on self‐esteem post‐intervention with a weighted average SMD of 0.20 (95% CI −0.20 to 0.61) and a large amount of heterogeneity. At follow‐up, we found evidence that programmes implemented by mental health providers appears to perform better than programmes implemented by teachers. The evidence was inconclusive beyond 12 months follow‐up.Authors' ConclusionsOur results indicate that the FRIENDS intervention may reduce anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents when reported by children and adolescents themselves. The majority of trials employed a wait‐list design, implying only a few studies reported on the long‐term effects of the FRIENDS intervention. Our findings suggest that the FRIENDS intervention may increase the reduction in anxiety symptoms 12 months after the intervention. This emphasises the need for future research that apply designs that allows for long‐term follow‐up. We are uncertain about the effects on self‐esteem. The overall certainty of evidence varied from low to very low. There is a need for more rigorously conducted studies.

show abstract

Indicated Prevention for Children Screened in Routine Health Care: Effectiveness of a Social Skills Program on Social Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

Zink,

Weniger,

Porst

et al. 2024

Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social anxiety is common in childhood and potentially transitions into clinical disorders including depression. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an indicated prevention program for children screened in routine care. Data came from the PROMPt project, a prospective implementation study (10/2018-09/2022) that explored a novel care chain, starting with screening with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as part of regular health check-ups, followed by indicated assignment and participation in a prevention program. Questionnaires assessing anxiety and depression symptoms were administered shortly after screening or before program participation (T0), six months after screening or after program participation (T1) and at a follow-up, six months after T1 (T2). Children who participated in a group cognitive-behavioral social skills program (TT; n = 145) were compared using mixed model analyses with non-participating children who were either screened as normal (NOR; n = 894) or refused program participation despite indication (NoTT; n = 67). TT scores improved from T0 to T1 compared to NOR and NoTT (anxiety β = -0.71 and β = -0.71, social anxiety β = -0.46 and β = -0.52, depression β = -0.52 and β = -0.73). Improvement was maintained at T2. Moderation analyses showed a trend toward greater benefit for participants with higher baseline scores. Indicated prevention can improve anxiety and depression symptoms in children identified by screening in routine care. Systematic screening and targeted prevention may positively affect mental health of children on a population level.

show abstract

The effectiveness of the FRIENDS programs for children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review

Cited by 7 publications

References 57 publications

Scoping review: Potential harm from school-based group mental health interventions

Scoping review: Potential harm from school-based group mental health interventions

The FRIENDS preventive programme for reducing anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Indicated Prevention for Children Screened in Routine Health Care: Effectiveness of a Social Skills Program on Social Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About